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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. scale — in music
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. suit — to fit
  5. board — a committee
  6. last — finally
  7. last — to go on
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. suit — in cards
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. board — to get on
  13. last — final
  14. mug — to rob
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. branch — a division
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. mug — a cup
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. suit — clothes
  22. bear — the animal
  23. scale — size or range
  24. mug — a face

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com